A Back-to-School Prayer
God,
I can still remember my very first day of school ever, as a wide-eyed four-year-old, excited to learn. The memory replays in my head over and over but the enthusiasm seems so distant. With mass shootings at places where we buy school supplies and families separated because of their legal status, my inner four-year-old feels afraid.
I ask for your warm embrace. Remind us that each of us are a masterpiece, created and loved by you for who we are, exactly as we are.
I ask for your forgiveness. Teach us to forgive those who hurt us, those we cannot seem to agree with peacefully, those who cause us fear.
I ask for your courage. Inspire us to show kindness over hatred in our day to day lives. Move our leaders towards compassion so that they may enact policies and actions that uplift human dignity and protect each life to the fullest.
I ask for your unshakable joy. Renew our childlike wonder and curiosity for learning and loving. Animate our enthusiasm for learning so that we may begin another academic year with peace and joy.
And thank you: for our schools, our teachers, our administrators, our service workers and our students.
May our children be safe and may your love be reflected in our schools.
Amen.
I can still remember my very first day of school ever, as a wide-eyed four-year-old, excited to learn. The memory replays in my head over and over but the enthusiasm seems so distant. With mass shootings at places where we buy school supplies and families separated because of their legal status, my inner four-year-old feels afraid.
I ask for your warm embrace. Remind us that each of us are a masterpiece, created and loved by you for who we are, exactly as we are.
I ask for your forgiveness. Teach us to forgive those who hurt us, those we cannot seem to agree with peacefully, those who cause us fear.
I ask for your courage. Inspire us to show kindness over hatred in our day to day lives. Move our leaders towards compassion so that they may enact policies and actions that uplift human dignity and protect each life to the fullest.
I ask for your unshakable joy. Renew our childlike wonder and curiosity for learning and loving. Animate our enthusiasm for learning so that we may begin another academic year with peace and joy.
And thank you: for our schools, our teachers, our administrators, our service workers and our students.
May our children be safe and may your love be reflected in our schools.
Amen.
Children praying at Casa Don Bosco. Ecuador 2013.
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